Windows President Steve Sinofsky discusses the new Surface tablet...(image: screengrab)

Image 2 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

New York Times

Guests try out new Microsoft Windows 8 products during the company's Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Image 2 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

Guests try out new Microsoft Windows 8 products during the company's Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Guests try out new Microsoft Windows 8 products during the company's...Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft...threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system...and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W....Lee/The New York Times)

Image 3 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

New York Times

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, on the stage during the company's Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Image 3 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, on the stage during the company's Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, on the stage during the...company's Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012....Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating...system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang...W. Lee/The New York Times)

Image 4 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Image 4 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8...operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October...25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in...an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal...computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to...compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty...Images)

Image 5 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

New York Times

Workers removing the products from the stage after the Microsoft Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Image 5 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

Workers removing the products from the stage after the Microsoft Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Workers removing the products from the stage after the Microsoft...Windows 8 and Surface event in New York, Oct. 25, 2012. Microsoft...threw a coming-out party on Thursday for their new operating system...and tablet, its most significant new products in years. (Chang W....Lee/The New York Times)

Image 6 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Bloomberg

Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., looks at the new Surface tablet during an interview in New York, U.S., on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Ballmer is introducing the biggest overhaul of his company's flagship software in almost two decades with the launch of Windows 8 at an event in New York today. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Steve Ballmer

Image 6 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., looks at the new Surface tablet during an interview in New York, U.S., on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Ballmer is introducing the biggest overhaul of his company's flagship software in almost two decades with the launch of Windows 8 at an event in New York today. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Steve Ballmer

Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., looks at...the new Surface tablet during an interview in New York, U.S., on...Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Ballmer is introducing the biggest overhaul...of his company's flagship software in almost two decades with the...launch of Windows 8 at an event in New York today. Photographer: Scott...Eells/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Steve Ballmer

Image 7 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Image 7 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: People look at the Microsoft Windows 8...operating system at a press conference launch of the system on October...25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in...an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal...computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to...compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty...Images)

Image 8 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks at a press conference unveiling the Windows 8 operating system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Image 8 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks at a press conference unveiling the Windows 8 operating system on October 25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks at a...press conference unveiling the Windows 8 operating system on October...25, 2012 in New York City. Windows 8 will offer a touch interface in...an effort to bridge the gap between tablets, smartphones and personal...computers. Microsoft will also be selling a tablet called Surface to...compete in the competitive tablet market. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty...Images)

Image 9 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Tiffany Wilson adjusts her gloves in the morning cool after arriving at 8:30am Thursday morning to wait in line for the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October 25, 2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled for Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited Microsoft Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Image 9 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Tiffany Wilson adjusts her gloves in the morning cool after arriving at 8:30am Thursday morning to wait in line for the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October 25, 2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled for Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited Microsoft Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Tiffany Wilson adjusts her gloves in the...morning cool after arriving at 8:30am Thursday morning to wait in line...for the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October 25,...2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled for...Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited Microsoft...Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo by John...Moore/Getty Images)

Image 10 of 10|Windows 8 and Surface event

Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: A queue awaits customers Thursday morning ahead of the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October 25, 2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled for Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited Microsoft Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Image 10 of 10 - Windows 8 and Surface event

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: A queue awaits customers Thursday morning ahead of the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October 25, 2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled for Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited Microsoft Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: A queue awaits customers Thursday morning...ahead of the opening of the Times Square Microsoft store on October...25, 2012 in New York City. The official store opening was scheduled...for Thursday night ahead of Friday's release of the long-awaited...Microsoft Surface tablets and the Windows 8 operating system. (Photo...by John Moore/Getty Images)

At an event in New York City, Windows president Steve Sinofsky and members of his team showed off the new device by playing action-packed movies like The Avengers and showing off how it renders video games like Hydro Thunder. The new Surface tablet is a 10.6 inch screen (diagonal) with a 16:9 aspect ratio and weighs about 1.5 pounds.

At one point during the demo, Panos Panay, the general manager of the Surface product, intentionally dropped the device to show off its durability, claiming it can hit the ground in “72 orientations” without breaking.

“They told me not to do that,” he said to a laughing crowd.

Surface will run one of the three new versions of Windows — Windows RT. Some analysts, like Michael Silver of Gartner, are concerned that customers might be confused by what applications work and don’t work on the new tablet. Applications on Windows RT will have to be purchased in the new Windows Store.

Microsoft emphasized how the Surface is both a leisure tablet and a working tablet. iPads have flooded the workplace and taken away some of the work — like giving presentations — usually done on Windows machines.